I've recently come across some disturbing information. Since becoming a teacher, I've also become curious about the differences in education in other countries. My friend, who graduated from a Korean high school here in Daegu in 2000, has shared his experience. I will in turn share it with you (plus bits I know about elementary/middle schools now) to compare with your own.
Presently, memorization is stressed as the major learning tool in every level of schooling. In private academies, elementary schools, and middle schools students are taught to memorize data, sentences, articles, and even full presentations. They are tested in a way that reinforces this style. My classes in particular are based around repetition of vocabulary, sentences, or full conversations and recalling sentences from articles by rote memory. In this way, the students are supposed to be learning grammar, sentence structure, and conversation skills, along with building a wide vocabulary. Unfortunately, my experience has been that as quickly as the material is committed to memory, it is forgotten or replaced. Unless a word or sentence structure is continually used over a longer period of time, I have little hope of the students utilizing it properly, or remembering it at all. In my friend's experience, his learning style was shaped by similar teaching techniques. Even into college, there is a lot of emphasis placed on memorization.
This got me thinking... What about subjects which typically don't rely on data, information, or reading articles? What about where you must learn processes or plans, like in woodworking or photography? You'd think this would be a great way to continue implementing the memorization rule while keeping school fun and interesting.
Again, I start thinking. When was the last time my question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" was answered by anything less standard than "Doctor," "Lawyer," "Teacher," or "Dentist"?
So I asked my friend, what kind of fun classes did you get to take in high school? He told me that high school was about 10% fun - the time he got to have a short break or lunch with his friends.
===== A little background:
Korean elementary = American elementary + 2 Saturdays/month + after-school academies (English, math, Korean, dance, TaeKwonDo...)
Korean middle school = American middle school + 2 Sat/month + academies or private lessons (English, Korean, math, history...)
Korean high school is much different.
M-F: Start time ~ 7:30 AM, short lunch in the school, dinner break, finish time ~10:30 PM. No academies.
Sat: Start time ~ 7:30 AM, short lunch, finish time ~2 PM. After this, maybe academy, probably private lessons in English, Korean, other various academic fields.
=====
It seems by the 3rd year of middle school, all fun has been prohibited. I asked about art classes: Only a cursory, still-life drawing/sketching class. Photography? Pottery? No. Drafting? Wood shop? Auto shop? Definitely not. Welding? No! Isn't that dangerous, he asks. Drama class? A school play*? Nope. Band? Orchestra? Choir? Yes, he did get to sing with a chorus group which would practice outside of school time for 2 concerts a year. At least gym is kind of like fun - if you're sporty. As far as I know, high schools here have no developed sports teams or system for promoting tournaments or intramural activities. There are some clubs in elementary or middle school for sports or interests like soccer, movies, book reporting, or drawing. The only competitions my students ever mention are math competitions or field day races.
(I know these few details about students nowadays due to the discussion questions we often have in conjunction with the reading class articles.)
My main concern is that high school students spend over 14 hours per day in a building learning purely academic subjects and have almost no artistic, technical, or remotely unique way to express themselves. Also, how do they learn what interests them if they're not exposed to skills like mechanical, automotive, artistic, dramatic, or specialized sports? Kids certainly don't decide to go to tech school before they ever use a wrench, or art school having never painted a canvas. How could a student possibly make an informed decision about his or her future without having experienced these different fields of study? I hope they're not relying on the Career and Vocational Assessment that I took in high school. That thing told me to be a waitress...
Please comment on this entry - I'd love to know what you think about education. Also, what questions you have that I can answer to make this more complete.
* I now know at least my elementary kids have an annual school play.
3 comments:
Sonja, I totally spaced out your birthday - so sorry! Sooo, Happy Birthday a month late. It is great to hear that you had a weekend in Seoul with Duek Kyun - say hello for me. I really do enjoy your writings on life in Korea. You do have a knack for writing. My current project is writing a grant for funds to hire a trained monitor for the boat launch at our lake. The hope is to keep Aquatic Invasive species out of or lake as there are several different kinds in the lakes near this one. They are transferred on boats and trailers as they go from one lake to another. Nancy had money and her passport stolen from her room in the Hague, where she is going to college. Later she learned that about 1000 Euros had been withdrawn from her bank accoount. A very unsettling situation creating a bit of paranoia to live with. She has managed to get a new passport and put a stop to the losses. I think the architecture (if you can call it that) of the newer housing in Korea reflects what you write about education. No imagination or creativity. Love you, Aunt Jan
Yeah, I never thought about the architecture. Great point. Actually, just today my highest-level class was discussing urban renewal. One of my students said the area we now live in used to be all one-level traditional housing but now it's large high-rise apartment buildings. I asked him if he meant it was more or less beautiful now. He thought it was more beautiful. Aah.
First of all, Stefan is engaged and getting married in August! To a nice gal named Liz who went to highschool with him!!
Your writing is very good, Sonja. What an interesting essay! I can't believe that. There is so much emphasis here on free thinking, creativity ("what is the best way to build a bridge" in 5th and 6th and the kids came up with about 12 different amazing designs). It's all about preparing these kids to take an active role in the future of the country - a problem solving proactive role.
I don't know much about Korea, but there must be adults who have to use problem solving skills in their occupations, there must be artists, welders, photographers. When... how do they choose their careers/occupations?
It would be interesting to see data on the differences in adults and their occupations. Maybe it would be surprising!
In any case, it really is interesting to learn that about the schooling. I wonder if their test scores are higher than here in the US? I suppose it would be like comparing apples to oranges in a way.
Take care, cuz!!
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